[1] In 1949, Abner was the choral director of a 40-person gospel choir that performed a number of spirituals on Chicago's WMOR radio station.
[2] In 1951, he led a vocal ensemble called the Knights of Music, which featured Alton Abraham, who would go on to become Sun Ra's collaborator and business manager.
[3] In 1953, Abner performed at the convention of the National Association of Negro Musicians, presided over by blues composer W.C.
He played the role of the messenger in Il trovatore and Giuseppi in La traviata in the Lyric Opera of Chicago's 1956 season.
[6] And in 1962, Abner was the soloist in Ludwig van Beethoven's Missa solemnis at Milton College.